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The Breeders' Cup World Championships will return to Belmont Park in 2027, marking the first time the prestigious meeting has been staged at the New York venue since 2005. The announcement was made at a Manhattan media event, with Keeneland confirmed as the 2026 host.
Breeders' Cup CEO and president Drew Fleming referenced the famous baseball film "Field of Dreams" when explaining the decision to bring racing's premier championship back to the Empire State. Two years ago, Fleming had written to the New York Racing Association and Governor Kathy Hochul with a simple message about the ongoing Belmont Park reconstruction project.
"In 2023, we wrote a letter, and we made a promise. If you build it, we will come. And today I am honoured to remain true to our word and bring the Breeders' Cup World Championships back to the Big Apple in 2027, where we will welcome fans from around the globe to a new era of New York racing at a beautiful new Belmont Park," Fleming said.
The rebuilt facility is receiving a US$455 million state loan and is expected to reopen in September 2026. This will mark the fifth occasion Belmont Park has staged the Breeders' Cup and the sixth time a NYRA racetrack has served as host venue. Aqueduct Racetrack was the site of the second Breeders' Cup in 1985.
NYRA chairman Marc Holliday outlined the vision behind the extensive reconstruction project, emphasising the desire to create something entirely fresh rather than simply upgrading the existing infrastructure.
"When NYRA set out many years ago to create a new, world-class Belmont Park, we wanted to do more than just upgrade the historic facility. Our goal was to build something new and exciting. An amazing venue to showcase racing in what is without question one of the most important markets in the world. We set out to build something compelling and fresh and create a new standard for racing entertainment to appeal to a generation of new fans. We knew if we realised this vision, we would attract events like the Breeders' Cup. So today is truly an affirmation of those efforts."
The reconstruction work includes significant changes to the racing surfaces, with a new configuration being introduced specifically for mile-and-a-quarter contests such as the Gr.1 Breeders' Cup Classic . The modifications will provide a smoother, less sharp approach to the backstretch, addressing previous concerns about the challenging turn from the chute.
Previously, horses competing over the Classic distance had to navigate approximately half a turn out of a chute due to Belmont's main track measuring a mile and a half in circumference. The new design aims to create a more flowing racing experience for these premier contests.
Governor Hochul praised the ambitious nature of the reconstruction project, highlighting how it complements New York's racing heritage while looking towards the future.
"This is a great day for our city and state. I want to thank Marc for being a visionary. When he first showed me the plan I loved it because it was so brilliant and created this amazing contrast in our own state to have Saratoga with the quintessential turn of the last century and feel of days long past. Then at the other end of the state we have the future unfolding. This is New York, and we do things big, bold, and audacious, and Marc, you were the person who got that over the finish line; so you had me at hello."
Keeneland will host the 2026 Breeders' Cup World Championships, marking the fourth time since 2015 that the Lexington venue has welcomed racing's biggest weekend. The track last hosted the championships in 2022 and has established itself as an ideal location despite initial concerns about capacity.
Keeneland CEO and president Shannon Arvin emphasised the shared values between her organisation and the Breeders' Cup.
"We strive to present the best of racing always, and the Breeders' Cup fits right into that. Our companies really do have very similar missions in that we are designed to perpetuate the very best in racing and do what's right for the sport and what's good for the horse. We're very like-minded."
Fleming compared Keeneland to golf's most prestigious venue when discussing the track's unique appeal.
"Keeneland is our Augusta National. I think anytime you take someone to Keeneland, they instantly become a racing fan. We have a great, long standing partnership with Keeneland. I think in 2015 there were sceptics that we couldn't have a Breeders' Cup at a venue of that size, and we proved that wrong. It was a tremendous success and such a success that we have been back there several times since."
Fans attending the 2026 championship at Keeneland will experience significant facility improvements, including a new paddock building costing more than US$100 million, which Arvin confirmed will be completed this autumn. Additional hospitality experiences are also being developed.
The return of Belmont Park creates a more balanced geographical distribution for the championship rotation, with Keeneland and the rebuilt New York venue representing the East Coast, while Del Mar and Santa Anita Park serve the West Coast. Churchill Downs, which last hosted in 2018, remains part of the rotation following its own substantial reconstruction projects.
Fleming highlighted the positive impact of infrastructure investment across American racing venues, praising Churchill Downs' recent Kentucky Derby success and emphasising the benefits of the rotating championship format.
"It's very exciting to see the development and the infrastructure and investment that tracks around the country are making. There's the new Belmont Park, expansion of Keeneland, and we have a great partnership with Churchill Downs. They put on a wonderful Kentucky Derby with record viewership, record handle, and the amount of investment they've put into Churchill Downs is exceptional. I think the best part of the Breeders' Cup is that we rotate venues. It's a really great opportunity for the Breeders' Cup to continue to rotate to all these fantastic spots."